As Robert Jovicic spends his third day in Canberra lobbying to secure a meeting about his future with new Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews, the pressure on Andrews is mounting.

Crikey understands that several high-profile and influential backbenchers from both houses are now taking an active interest in Jovicic’s case.

Jovicic, initially deported to Serbia on character grounds after committing a string of crimes related to his heroin addiction, was brought home by the government last year on compassionate grounds. He has not committed a crime since 2000 and says he remains drug free.

The Immigration Minister continues to maintain that Jovicic must apply for Serbian citizenship if he wants to remain in Australia. Jovicic, who never applied for Australian citizenship, was born in France and came to Australia as an infant, insists he has no links with Serbia.

But given the interest taken by several backbenchers, Jovicic’s case appears to be building momentum, especially in light of the general dissatisfaction over the treatment of David Hicks that’s beginning to permeate the backbench.

Is it a huge leap to suggest that the discontent within the government over a suggested breach of Hicks’ human rights could be extended to the treatment of Robert Jovicic? Liberal MPs Petro Georgiou, Bruce Baird, Warren Entsch and Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce said on Tuesday that the option of bringing Hicks home should be considered and Liberal MP Judith Adams also raised concerns.

Howard faced down the most serious backbench rebellion in his Prime Ministership over another human rights issue last August when his backbench, led by renegade Liberal MP Petro Georgiou and Liberal Senator Judith Troeth and supported by Family First Senator Steve Fielding, hijacked the government’s controversial border protection legislation.

Deciding Jovicic’s future is set to be the first tough public decision of the new, staunchly Catholic Immigration Minister, and could indicate how his faith informs his politics when it comes to tough humanitarian decisions.